The Stockings are hung.... - Five on Friday

No, actually they are not. The tree is not yet up, the stockings are still in the cupboard and the wrapping has barely began. The shopping isn't even finished yet. Arrgg. I can't be the only one feeling behind. I thought I was doing really well. I think it's more the expectation I put on myself rather than others putting on me. I don't really feel in the 'holiday spirit'. There is plenty of snow outside. It looks really pretty but it isn't fun to be out in. It's so cold out that the snow has turned all crunchy. Daughter had been up earlier in the week to visit a friend in the town she used to live and had to drive back this morning when the roads were quite bad. She said it was really surprising as just 90 miles away (where she had gone) it wasn't bad at all - just when you got close to our town!

Enough of that - here's my five. Rather random, but no lights or tree to show!

Nothing like lovely homemade soup and cheese toasties when the weather is cold outside! In this case it is Leek and Potato. Yum.

Bread and Butter Pudding. It is made by my friend as a gift for me. She makes it for me for my birthday and Christmas. It is just delicious! She has to hide it from her family so I can have it. Good friends and good food and especially pleasant at this time of year.

Homemade cracker boxes filled with yummy chocolates and handed out to friends. The friend who made me the pudding loves Cadbury Twirls. I always bring her some back when I go home and I picked the minis out of my box of Heroes to put in her box.

Wrapping has begun, but it is not that pretty as, admittedly, I am not that good at wrapping. I compensate by putting the presents nicely in bags. Obviously that hasn't happened yet either. Wrapping is taking place in my craft room so at least I can make a mess and no-one is any the wiser!

Lastly, I'll wrap up with pictures of a couple of the live Christmas Trees we've had that we ended up planting in the garden. I have visions of decorating them maybe with bird feeders and such, but at this point the snow in the back garden is deeper than my boots and I don't relish the thought of cold, wet feet.

These were taken a few days ago - there has been more snow since then! Unless there is a dramatic warm-up we will be having a white Christmas. We are under a Winter Weather Advisory from 7am tomorrow morning until 7am Sunday morning. This one, if believed, could bring another 7 inches of snow and maybe some freezing rain!